Film unwinding and splicing apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for unwinding and splicing rolls of material (web or film) being supplied to various processing operations such as printing, bag forming or packaging. The machine has means for supporting at least two rolls of the material, the leading end margin of the material being provided with splicing adhesive. The material from the roll to be unwound is entrained over a take-off roller and from there passes to a processing operation. A presser roller is disposed adjacent to the take-off roller and is provided with means for moving the same from a normal retracted position in spaced proximity to the take-off roller, to a position in which its peripheral surface is pressed against the material entrained over the take-off roller. The lead portion of the material from the other roll is caused to assume a depending position with its lower edge in close proximity to the gap between the take-off and presser rollers. Accurate sensing means is provided for sensing when the material is completely unwound from the one roll. Upon operation of the sensing means the presser roller is urged against the take-off roller, and the depending lead portion of the other roll is caused to be moved between and be engaged by the presser and take-off rollers, thus effecting a splice. Preferably the sensing means initiates both the movement of the presser roller to engage and press against the take-off roller and movement of the depending lead portion from the other roll to cause its lower margin to pass between the take-off and presser rollers. The sensing means consists of two members, one of which engages the periphery of the roll being unwound, and the other of which is carried by the first member and is continuously urged against that portion of the material extending from the roll being unwound to the take-off roller.

ates" Gaubert FILM UNWINDING AND SPLlClNG APPARATUS AND METHOD [76] Inventor: Rene J. Gaubert, 4219 Oakmore Rd., Oakland, Calif. 94602 [22] Filed: Oct. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:'299,370

[52] U.S. Cl. 242/584, 156/504 [51] Int. Cl ..B65h19/16 [58] Field of Search 242/584, 58.3, 58.2, 58.1,

Primary Examiner-John W. Huckert Assistant Examiner-John M. Jillions Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus and method for unwinding and splicing rolls of material (web or film) being supplied to various processing operations such as printing, bag forming or packaging. The machine has means for supporting at least two rolls of the material, the leading end Feb. 4, 1975 margin of the material being provided with splicing adhesive. The material from the roll to be unwound is entrained over a take-off roller and from there passes to a processing operation. A presser roller is disposed adjacent to the take-off roller and is provided with means for moving the same from a normal retracted position in spaced proximity to the take-off roller, to a position in which its peripheral surface is pressed against the material entrained over the take-off roller. The lead portion of the material from the other roll is caused to assume a depending position with its lower edge in close proximity to the gap between the takeoff and presser rollers. Accurate sensing means is provided for sensing when the material is completely unwound from the one roll. Upon operation of the sensing means the presser roller is urged against the takeoff roller, and the depending lead portion of the other roll is caused to be moved between and be engaged by the presser and take-off rollers, thus effecting a splice. Preferably the sensing means initiates both the movement of the presser roller to engage and press against the take-off roller and movement of the depending lead portion from the other roll to cause its lower margin to pass between the take-off and presser rollers. The sensing means consists of two members, one of which engages the periphery of the roll being unwound, and the other of which is carried by the first member and is continuously urged against that portion of the material extending from the roll being unwound to the take-off roller.

8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIED FEB 5 SHEET 10F 5 PATENTED FEB N 5 SHEU 20F 5 FIG.9

PATENTEU FEB 4197s SHEET 5 0F 5 FILM UNWINDING AND SPLICING APPARATUS AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for carrying out material unwinding and splicing operations. It also relates to sensing apparatus for sensing the end of a web or film of material being unwound from a roll.

Machines are presently in use for receiving rolls of material in the form of a web or film and for supplying this material to various processing operations, such as printing, bag forming or packaging. To facilitate a con tinuous supply ofthis film to such operations, the apparatus is generally provided with means for supporting two or more rolls of the material, with one roll being actively unwound and the other roll being available to supply material when the first roll is spent or completely unwound. The splicing of the end of the matev rial leaving the spent roll to the leading edge ofmaterial from a fresh supply roll is a difficult operation requiring considerable skill. Assuming that the material leaving a roll passes over a take-off idler roller as it passes to the printing or other material processing machine, it is common practice to provide a presser roller adjacent the take-off roller together with means whereby the presser roller can be moved against the material as it passes over the take-off roller. While the presser roller is urged against the take-off roller and the'web of material passing over the take-off roller, the leading edge of a fresh roll of material, provided with pressure-sensitive adhesive, can be manually fed between the presser roller and the take'off roller, thus causing it to be pressed against the trailing end portion of the material from the spent roll. Thus the leading edge of the fresh roll ofmaterial is caused to be spliced to the trailing end portion of the material from the spent roll. To make a proper splice the operator must correlate the operations just described with unwinding of material from the one roll. Even with a skillful operator it is necessary to reduce the speed of movement of the material to enable this type of splicing to take place. This is because when the material is unwinding at operating speeds it leaves the core too rapidly to enable an observing operator to manually initiate a proper splice. In practice, the method results in much improper splicing and application of splices in such a manner as to waste material. Improper splicing may result in jamming of the machine to which the material is being supplied, thus causing frequentshutdowns.

It will be evident that the difficulties referred to above seriously interfere with operation of the machines to which such materials are being supplied, and these difficulties are accentuated as the speed of-movement of the material is increased. Slowing down of the speed of movement of the material to carry out the splicing, occasional shutdowns caused by improper splicing, and wastage of material all serve to seriously interfere with efficient production.

Accurate indication of when material leaves a core on which it is wound is difficult for various reasons. The rolls of material vary somewhat from cylindrical form, and such variations may change as the material is unwound. In addition, as the, core upon which the material is wrapped is approached, the web leaving the roll tends to flutter or vibrate. Another difficulty is that as the end of the material wrapped around the core is apcient manner and without the necessity for a high degree of operator skill. More specifically, there is a need for an unwinding and splicing apparatus and method which is capable of operating automatically without manual supervision. Aside from such unwinding and splicing operations, there is a need for a sensing means which will accurately sense the precise time when material leaves a roll of the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS In general, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for unwinding and splicing rolls of material in web or film forms which will enable such operations to be carried out more effectively and with less skill on the part of the operator.

Another object is to provide an apparatus and method of the above character which will make possible splicing while the material is being supplied to a processing machine at a relatively high rate of movement.

Another object is to provide an apparatus and method of the above character which will make possible automated splicing operations without reducing the speed with which the material is being supplied.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus and method for sensing when material in roll formis unwound to the extent that the last convolution leaves the core upon which the material is wrapped.

Another object is to provide a splicing apparatus and -method which is relatively simple in its construction and operation.

In general, the present invention is incorporated in a machine arranged to support two or more rolls ofmaterial with a take-off roller over whichthe material is trained as it passes to further processing operations. As is customary, the leading end margin of the material is provided with splicing adhesive. As previously explained, such machines are provided with a rotatable presser roller disposed adjacent and parallel to the take-off roller, together with means for moving the presser roller from a normal retracted position in spaced proximity to the take-off roller to a position in which its peripheral surface is pressed against the material entrained over the take-off roller, the general arrangement being such that while the material from one roll is moving over the take-off roller to processing operations, the leading portion of the other roll may assume a depending position with its lower edge in close proximity to the gap between the take-off and presser rollers. Means is provided which is responsive to sensing completion of the unwinding of material from the one roll to effect movement of the presser roller against the take-off roller and engagement of the end margin of the depending portion between the rollers, whereby said margin is pressed against and caused to'adhere to the trailing portion of the unwoundmaterial, thereby forming a splice. Preferably, means is provided responsive to sensing completion of the unwinding of material from the one roll to effect movement of the depending portion of the material toward the take-off and presser rollers, whereby it is engaged by the rollers and pressed against the material of the one roll to make a splice. The sensing means preferably consists of a member which is urged into engagement with the exterior periphery of the roll together with a second sensing member carried by the first and urged against the material leaving the roll and intermediate the roll and the takeoff roller. Movement of the sensing member when the end of the material is reached serves to operate suitable means, such as electrical switches thereby initiating the operations required for splicing.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in section showing a machine incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detail illustrating a gear rack and overriding clutch incorporated in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating further details of the overriding clutch in section.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 looking toward the left-hand side thereof.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the preferred sensing device.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the sensing device shown in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 8A are schematic side elevational views which facilitate an understanding of the mode of operation and steps of the method.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram indicating electrical con- I nections for the various electrical components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 taken together with FIG. 4 consists of a frame It) having laterally spaced upright support members 11. These upright members serve to journal a horizontally extending shaft 12 which serves to carry means for supporting two or more rolls of material. Thus, radially extending arms 13 are mounted upon the shaft 12, and their ends are adapted to removably receive the ends of the mandrels 14. These mandrels carry the rolls 16a and 16b of material to be unwound. The material may for example be a polyethylene or cellophane film or a film of other plastic material. Also it may be a web of material like paper or foil. The length of the rolls depends upon the width of the material and may vary in accordance with requirements. Likewise, the diameter of the rolls may vary depending upon the length of the material making up the roll, and its thickness. Generally, it is desirable to wind the material of the roll upon a core 18, which may be a tube of suitable wall thickness made of mate.- rial like fiberboard. The arms 13 together with the rolls 16a and 16b may be turned about the axis of the shaft 12 to facilitate loading rolls upon the arms and proper positioning of therolls while material is being unwound. The roll from which the material is being unwound is the upper roll 16a, and the second roll 16b is available to supply material when the roll 16a is depleted or spent-Suitable means (not shown) can be'employed for releasably retaining the arms 13 in a desired position whereby they can be released and turned manually for raising the roll 16b to the position previously occupied by roll 16a.

In FIG. 1 the film 21a is shown extending tangentially from the roll 16a to a take-off roller 22. This roller is rotatably mounted on the frame of the machine, and from this roller the film extends to other apparatus for carrying out processing operations, such as printing, bag forming or packaging. Tension is applied by virtue of friction which prevents free rotation of the rolls, and by the action of feed rollers used in connection with the processing operations. Extending parallel and adjacent the roller 22 there is a presser roller 23, the ends of which are carried by members 24. Members 24 in turn are carried by the movable operating rods of the double acting pneumatic operators 26 which may be of the cylinder-piston type..

Normally the presser roller 23 is retracted from engagement with the roller 22 so that they are separated by a small gap. However, when the operators 26 are energized, the roller 23 is urged into contact with and against the periphery of roller 22 and adjacent the material 21 entrained over the same.

The film 21b wrapped upon the roll 16b is shown having a portion depending toward the rollers 22 and 23. The lower end margin 21c isshown terminating immediately'above the region of the gap 27 between the rollers. This positioning of the material from roll 16b is carried out manually immediately after loading this roll upon the arms 13, and it places the film in readiness for splicing to the trailing end portion of the material leaving roll 16a. The end margin 210 of each roll of material is provided with a tape having a suitable adhesive to facilitate splicing, as for example, an adhesive of the pressure sensitive type.

Apparatus as described above is available from a number of manufacturers, and is being used for supply ing various types of material to machines which carry out processing operations such as printing, bag making or packaging. To carry out a material splicing operation, considerable manual skill is required.-When the roll 16a is nearly depleted or spent, the operator endeavors to determine when the end of the material is reached, and as this end approaches the rollers 22 and 23, roller 23 is urged against roller 22 and the operator manually feeds the material 21b downwardly toward the rollers whereby the end margin 21c passes between the rollers and is pressed into adhering engagement with the material of the previous roll. Even with a skillful operator it is necessary for the material 21a to be moving at a relatively slow speed during the time the splice is being made. Thus, if it is desired to move the material at rates possible in such processing operations as printing and the like (e.g., 400 to 650 ft. per minute), the rate of movement of the material must be drastically reduced during splicing. Even with a skillful operator and a drastic slowdown of the rate of movement during splicing, defective splices are common, and as a result it may be necessary to shut down the entire operation to correct the difficulty. Also, the splice may be applied in such a manner as to waste material.

The present invention makes use of a highly sensitive and accurate sensing device 31. This consists ofa member 32 in the form of an arm having its one end pivotally carried by the shaft 12, and its free end serving to mount a pin or shaft 33 which journals the roller 34. Themember 32 is pivoted on the shaft 12 in such a manner that itmay be adjusted axially. Thus, it is shown journalled upon bushing 36 which in turn is splined to the shaft 12.

Member 32 serves to carry a second member 37 in the form of an arm which is secured to the shaft 38 that is journalled on the member 32. The free end of member 38 carries a pin 39. Cam members 41 and 42 are also adjustably attached to the shaft 38, and these members serve to actuate the contacts of the electrical switches 43 and 44. The free end of member 32 is urged toward the roll 16a by one or more adjustable counterweights 45. The free end of member 38 is urged in the same direction by suitable means such as a spring 46.

Means is also provided to advance the material from roll 16b for carrying out a splicing operation. This means consists of a double acting pneumatic operator 47, as for example, one of the cylinder-piston type, having its operating rod 48 connected to the lever 49. This lever isjournalled to the machine frame and its free end is connected to the gear rack 51. Suitable means such as springs 52 and 53 serve to yieldably urge the rack 51 upwardly. The arrangement is such that when the operator 47 is energized, the rack moves to the left as viewed in FIG. 1.

Each of the shafts 14 is provided with gear and overrunning or overriding clutch means 56. Also, the rack is loosely retained by the guide means 54. Each means 56 consists of a ring gear 57, the teeth of which operatively engage the teeth of the rack 51 when a roll is positioned like the roll 16b shown in FIG. 1. The ring gear 57 is rotatably carried by the inner member 58 which in turn is secured to the associated shaft 14. Camming recesses 59 are formed in the periphery of member58 to accommodate the spring-pressed rollers 61. As is well known to those familiar with overriding clutches, when the ring gear 57 turns in a counterclockwise di rection as viewed in FIG. 2, it turns freely without applying any torque to the member 58 or shaft 14. However clockwise rotation causes the rollers 61 to drive member 58, thus causing turning torque to be applied to the shaft 14.

The purpose of the arrangement just described is to apply turning torque to the roll 16b when the operator 47 is energized, thus effecting turning of the shaft 14 and roller 16b through a fraction of a revolution to advance the material 21b.

Each of the shafts 14 is also coupled to a torque friction device 62 which is adjustable whereby unwinding of a roll can be resisted by a predetermined amount of torque to insure relatively constant web or film tension.

The circuit diagram of FIG. 9 shows electrical connections for energizing the double-acting pneumatic operators 26 and 47 under the control of the contacts of the sensing device. The indicated current supply lines L1 and L2 can be ordinary 110 volt A.C. Supply of air under pressure to the pneumatic operator 26 is shown being controlled by the four-way valve 66 which is solenoid operated and is connected to a source of air under pressure. Likewise, the operator 47 has pneumatic connections with the four-way valve 67 which is likewise solenoid operated and connected to a source ofair under pressure. The blocks M1 and M2 schematically represent the switches 43 and 44 and their operating cams 41 and 42 which are operated in accordance with the positioning of the member 37.

The control panel 68 is shown provided with switches S1 and S2, which may be of the toggle type. Switch S1 as shown provided with two blades, and a common operating lever. Also the operating panel is shown provided with lights 69, 70 and 71, which may be green, white and red, respectively. Line L1 is connected to the two blades of switch S1. Line L2 connects to one side of the winding of the solenoid valve 66, and also to the same side of the winding of solenoid valve 67. The two switches 43 and 44 may be of the microswitch type, with the switches being provided with operating members 73 and 74, which are moved by the cams 41 and 42 to effect switch operation. The cams 41 and 42 are schematically indicated in FIG. 9, in conjunction with the operating members 73 and 74. As previously mentioned these cams are rotated together with the arm 37. When the switch S1 is down to close the lower blade upon contact 1, the winding of solenoid valve 66 is connected across lines L1 and L2 to energize same. When switch S1 is moved to its up position, whereby its upper blade closes upon both contacts 2 and 3, line L1 is connected through conductor 77 with the blade of switch 44, and also with the blade of the schematically illustrated time delay switch 78. When the operating lever of switch S2 is moved upwardly to close the switch blade upon the contact 1, this contact makes connection through conductor 79 with one side of the winding of solenoid valve 66. Also, conductor 79 connects with contact 1 of the switch 44. Contact 2 of switch 44 connects to one side of the motor of the delay switch 78, and the other side of this motor connects with line L2. Contact 1 of switch 43 connects with the conductor 76, and the blade of switch 43 is connected by conductor 81 with contact 1 of the time delay switch 78. The blade of this switch connects with the conductor 77. The connections for the signal lights 69, 70 and 71 may be as illustrated. The light 69 has one side connected to conductor 82, leading to line L2, and its other side connected to contact 1 of switch S1. One side of light 70 also connects with conductor 82, and the other side connects with the conductor 79. Light 71 has one side connected to conductor 82 and the other side connected to the contact 3 of switch S1.

As will be presently explained, the apparatus functions automatically when the switch S1 is in its upper position, and the switch S2 is open. In FlG. 9 the cams 41 and 42 are shown positioned whereby the members 73 and 74 are in the depressions of the cams. Previous to carrying out a splicing operation the cams 41 and 42 are positioned whereby the member 73 and 74 are raised, thus opening contact 1 of switch 43, and closing contact 2 of switch 44. A slight angular displacement is shown between the cams 41 and 42. This is because cam 41 preferably moves to a position to cause opening of contact 1 of switch 43, immediately before cam 42 becomes positioned to cause switch 44 to open with respect to contact 2, and close upon contact 1.

Assuming that one wishes to carry-out a splicing operation manually, the switch S1 is initially left in the neutral position. as illustrated in FIG. 9. it is assumed that the operator has started the apparatus in operation, with both rolls of materials 16a and 16b upon the arms 13, and with the material unwinding from the roll 16a and passing to further processing operations over the take-off roller 22. The presser roller 23 at this time is retracted. In preparation for making a splice, the operator turns the roll 16b so that its leading end is made to hang downwardly in the manner shown in FIG. 1. .The lower margin of the material, which carries adhesive, is located just above the gap betweenthe rollers 22 and23. When the roller 16a approaches the point of depletion, the operator pneumatically energizes the operators 26 to urge the presser roller 23 against the take-off roller 22, and against the material passing over the same. With the circuitry of FIG. 9 this is carried out by moving the switch S1 from neutral to its down position, which energizes the solenoid operated valve 66. The operator now endeavors to carefully observe when the material leaves the core of roll 16a. As previously, mentioned before this can be done with any degree of accuracy it is necessary to slow down the operation of the machine. When the operator observes that the material has left the core of roll 16a, he manually applies some torque to the roll 16b, whereby the depending portion 21b moves downwardly to cause its lower margin to be engaged by the rollers 22 and 23, and carried through these rollers. Pressure applied to the overlap- 16b for the minor part of a revolution, thus again caus,

ing the depending portion 21b to be moved downwardly to complete a splice. This type of operation may be referred to as semi-automatic.

To carry out a completely automatic cycle the operator, after the apparatus has been placed in operation with the switch S1 in its neutral position, engages the sensing device 31 with the material 21 extending between the roll 16a and the take-off of roller 22, in the manner previously described and as is shown in FIG. 1. This involves placing the sensing device in such a position upon the shaft 12 that the roller 34 engages the periphe'ry of the roll 16a, with the sensing finger 39 engaging the right hand side of the material 21a as viewed in FIG. 1. The material at this time has sufficient tension whereby the finger 39 remains in this position without any substantial deflection of the material 210. After the sensing device 31 has been properly positioned in operative relationship with the roll 16a and material 21a as just described, switch S1 is placed in its upper or automatic position. At this time, the cams 41 and 42 are so positioned that members 73 and 74 are retained whereby contact 1 of switch 43 is open, and contact 1 of switch 44 is open and contact 2 is closed. Likewise at this time, the. contact 1 of the time delay switch 78 is closed. Under such conditions neither one of the solenoid valves 66 or 67 is energized, and likewise, the rack operator 26 and the roller operator 47 are not energized'Wh'en the end of the material leaves the core of roll 16a, the material 210 is no longer tensioned and therefore member 37 moves relative to member 32, thus affecting turning movement of the cams 41 and 42. This is shown in FIG. 8A. The initial part of this turning movement causes operation of switch 43 because member 73 is permitted to drop into the depression of cam 41, and thus this switch closes on contact 1. With the contactsof delay switch 78 closed, this serves to energize the solenoid valve 66, with the result that the operator 26 of the roller 23 is energized to press this roller against the take-off roller 22. Immediately afteroperating switch 43, the cam 42 reaches a position where themember 74 drops into the depression of this cam, whereby contact 1 is closed, and contact 2 opened. This causes the solenoid valve 67 to be energized thereby energizing the rack operator 47 to affect turning movement of the roll 16b as previously described. The timing is necessarily such that before the end of the material 21 reaches the take-off roller 22, the lower end ofthe material from roll 16b has been moved downwardly andcaused to be engaged between rollers 22 and 23, to complete a splice.

The purpose of the delay switch 78 is to maintain the operators 26 in actuated condition for a predetermined period of time sufficient to complete the splice, after which operators 26 are automatically de-energized to retract the roller 23. As previously mentioned the contacts of delay switch 78 are normally closed. Thus a circuit can be completed through these contacts to the solenoid valve 66. The setting of the delay switch 78 is such that after contact 2 of switch 44 has been open for a predetermined period of time, the motive element of the delay switch 78 causes opening of contact 1. As long as these contacts remain closed the pneumatic operators 26 remain energized thus retaining the presser roller 23 urged against the take-off roller 22. At the end of such time delay the contacts of the delay switch 78 are opened, thus de-energizing the operators 26 and retracting the presser roll 23. This occurs after there has been ample time to complete the splice.

With respect to the signal lights 69, and 71, they are all extinguished whenthe switches S1 and S2 are in their neutral or off positions shown in FIG. 9. When it is desired to make a splice manually, the green light 69 is illuminated when the switch S1 is moved into its down position. When the switch S1 is moved upwardly, for full automatic operation, the red light 71 is illuminated. After the switches 43 and 44 have been actuated to affect a splice, the red light 71 is extinguished, and the white light 70 is illuminated. The white light remains illuminated until the switch S1 has been returned to its neutral position.

. In thevforegoing, the switches 'of the sensing device 31 have been described as serving to automatically initiate a splicing operation. Also, reference has been made to processing operations to which the material is applied as it leaves the take-off roller 22. Certain of such processing operations may likewise be automatically initiated by the sensing device 31, as by additional circuitry controlled by the switches 43 and 44, or by additional switches and cam means which may be employed to operate the same responsive to movements of the member 37. By way of example, if at the end of such a processing operation like printing, it is desired to roll up the material in predetermined lengths, the

sensing device 31 can be used to control such operations, whereby the'material is successively cut into predetermined lengths and these lengths wound upon cores to provide rolls.

In general, it will be evident from the foregoing that the invention provides a relatively simple apparatus for carrying out fully automatic or semi-automatic splicing operations. It makes possible splicing operations without manual intervention at relatively high speeds, and makes possible continuous operation at relatively high speed, without slowing down movement of the material for splicing. Splices are produced in a uniform manner,

with a minimum number of defective splices, and without wasting material.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for unwinding and splicing rolls of material, the exterior lead end of the material being provided with splicing adhesive, means for supporting separate first and second rolls of the material on spaced parallel horizontal axes, a horizontal rotatable take-off roller over which the material is entrained as it is unwound from the first one of the rolls, a rotatable presser roller disposed alongside and parallel to the take-off roller, means for moving the presser roller from a normal retracted position in spaced proximity to the takeoff roller to a pressing position in which its peripheral surface is pressed against the take-off roller and the material entrained upon the same, there being a vertically open gap between the rollers when said presser roller is in its normal retracted position, the lead end of the material from the second roll of material and the gap between said take-off and presser rollers being such that such lead end hangs down by gravity with its lower end in proximity with the gap between the rollers, and means responsive to completion of the unwinding of material from the first roll to energize the means for moving the presser roller whereby the presser roller is moved against the take-off roller and the material entrained over the same, and means to effect lowering movement of said lead end of the material from the second roll downwardly between the take off and presser rollers whereby said lead end is caused to be pressed against and to adhere to the trailing endportion of the unwound material from the second roll, thereby forming a splice.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said last-named means is energized responsive to completion of the unwinding of material from said first roll.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the means for moving the presser roller against the take-off roller includes a first electrical circuit having a first set of contacts for controlling the same, and the means for effecting movement of material depending from the second roll includes a second electrical circuit having a second set of contacts for controlling the same, and sensing means serving to actuate both said sets of contacts in response to complete unwinding of the first roll 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the means for moving'the depending lead end of material from the second roll includes overriding clutch means coupled to the second roll and means for applying torque to said overriding clutch means in a direction to effect advancing rotation of the second roll for a fraction of a revolution.

5. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said sensing means serves to actuate said sets of contacts in sequence.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said last-named means includes motive means for applying turning torque directly to the second roll to turn the same and thereby lower the leading end margin upon completion of the unwinding of material from the first roll.

7. A method for effecting the unwinding and splicing of material inroll form, the method making use of apparatus' consisting of means for supporting separate first and second rolls of the material, a take-off roller over which the material is entrained as it leaves a roll being unwound and is supplied to other processing operations, a presser roller being disposed alongside the take-off roller and movable from a retracted position spaced from the take-off roller to a position in which it presses against the take-off roller and the material entrained about the same, and sensing means to sense when a roll has been completely unwound, the method comprising positioning a lead end of the material from the second roll which is not being unwound whereby it hangs downwardly by gravity toward the take-off and presser rollers with its lower extremity in proximity with the gap between the rollers, causing the presser roller to be moved into pressing contact with the take-- off roller immediately upon completing unwinding of material from the first roll, and applying direct turning torque to the second roll to cause the depending lead end of the material to be lowered to cause the sameto be engaged by the rollers and pressed into engagement with the trailing portion of the material from the first roll, thereby forming a splice.

8. A method as in claim 7 in which torque is applied to the second roll immediately after the presser roller is moved into pressing engagement with the take-off roller. 

1. Apparatus for unwinding and splicing rolls of material, the exterior lead end of the material being provided with splicing adhesive, means for supporting separate first and second rolls of the material on spaced parallel horizontal axes, a horizontal rotatable take-off roller over which the material is entrained as it is unwound from the first one of the rolls, a rotatable presser roller disposed alongside and parallel to the take-off roller, means for moving the presser roller from a normal retracted position in spaced proximity to the take-off roller to a pressing position in which its peripheral surface is pressed against the take-off roller and the material entrained upon the same, there being a vertically open gap between the rollers when said presser roller is in its normal retracted position, the lead end of the material from the second roll of material and the gap between said take-off and presser rollers being such that such lead end hangs down by gravity with its lower end in proximity with the gap between the rollers, and means responsive to completion of the unwinding of material from the first roll to energize the means for moving the presser roller whereby the presser roller is moved against the take-off roller and the material entrained over the same, and means to effect lowering movement of said lead end of the material from thE second roll downwardly between the take off and presser rollers whereby said lead end is caused to be pressed against and to adhere to the trailing end portion of the unwound material from the second roll, thereby forming a splice.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said last-named means is energized responsive to completion of the unwinding of material from said first roll.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the means for moving the presser roller against the take-off roller includes a first electrical circuit having a first set of contacts for controlling the same, and the means for effecting movement of material depending from the second roll includes a second electrical circuit having a second set of contacts for controlling the same, and sensing means serving to actuate both said sets of contacts in response to complete unwinding of the first roll.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the means for moving the depending lead end of material from the second roll includes overriding clutch means coupled to the second roll and means for applying torque to said overriding clutch means in a direction to effect advancing rotation of the second roll for a fraction of a revolution.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said sensing means serves to actuate said sets of contacts in sequence.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said last-named means includes motive means for applying turning torque directly to the second roll to turn the same and thereby lower the leading end margin upon completion of the unwinding of material from the first roll.
 7. A method for effecting the unwinding and splicing of material in roll form, the method making use of apparatus consisting of means for supporting separate first and second rolls of the material, a take-off roller over which the material is entrained as it leaves a roll being unwound and is supplied to other processing operations, a presser roller being disposed alongside the take-off roller and movable from a retracted position spaced from the take-off roller to a position in which it presses against the take-off roller and the material entrained about the same, and sensing means to sense when a roll has been completely unwound, the method comprising positioning a lead end of the material from the second roll which is not being unwound whereby it hangs downwardly by gravity toward the take-off and presser rollers with its lower extremity in proximity with the gap between the rollers, causing the presser roller to be moved into pressing contact with the take-off roller immediately upon completing unwinding of material from the first roll, and applying direct turning torque to the second roll to cause the depending lead end of the material to be lowered to cause the same to be engaged by the rollers and pressed into engagement with the trailing portion of the material from the first roll, thereby forming a splice.
 8. A method as in claim 7 in which torque is applied to the second roll immediately after the presser roller is moved into pressing engagement with the take-off roller. 